Digital Photography Technology & Innovations

In this blog post, I want to discuss about the importance of innovation and new technology developments in digital photography. I have personally heard many photographers blame Canon for lack of innovation in latest years. Some claims are not far from the truth, at least for photographers who have high expectations for the leading camera manufacturers like Nikon and Canon. Furthermore, it seems that smaller companies like Olympus, Panasonic & Fujifilm, have been able to keep the innovation wheel going for a long time.

Innovation in the digital photography market is very important, considering the competition. Digital camera manufacturers know that in order to gain more market share over time, the company needs to put itself in front, in terms of technology innovations. Become a leader in that field is not as easy as we might think. Even so, there are many aspects in digital photography that can be improved, and satisfy both amateur and professional photographers.



So what exactly can be improved by digital photography technology innovations? (at least from 2010 and a few years from now)
Well, a lot! - Here are some improvements and technology innovations that we have seen in previous years:

• Camera back LCD screen - Increase in resolution and pixel density. Furthermore, Canon has managed to shrink the gap between the LCD screen and the glass, enabling photographers to watch the screen in difficult lighting conditions. Viewing angles have been also increased. Overall it gave camera manufacturers the ability to upgrade their menu system and user interface for better usability and functionality. This is important, especially in entry-level DSLR cameras, where the main screen is heavily used. It because there aren't many dedicated buttons for operating all the functionality. Furthermore, hobbyist photographers are used to operate the camera using the LCD monitor, as previous consumer digital cameras they owned before hand.
  
  
  
• CCD sensor - This is probably the heart of the camera. It is the recorder, that gathers the light and translates photons into digital signals. If you are able to innovate and create better sensors, you will mostly get better image quality and enhance the camera functionality. Canon produces their own CMOS sensors. On the Canon 5D Mark II, Canon has implemented new technologies. Canon was able to shrink the gab between the photodiodes (micro-lenses), allowing for capturing a greater amount of light, maximizing signal-to-noise ratio. Also a 14-bit channel A/D conversion was used, allowing for more brightness and colors information, smoother tonal transitions and more gray shades.
  
  Fujifilm has also proved to be a great innovator. creating it own Super CCD EXR sensor (announced at Pre-Photokina 2008). The Super CCD EXR promise wider dynamic range, high sensitivity and low noise in high ISO settings.
  I have read some rumors about a new Sony full frame sensor CCD SuperHAD II and a new patent pending for a honeycomb image sensor (Patent Publication No. 2010-161200 ):
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Sony pending-patent honeycomb image sensor image

  
  
  
  
• Bayer Algorithm & Demosaicing - There are various interpolation algorithms that can interpolate the Bayer pattern (Demosaicing). The main purpose of the algorithm is to convert Bayer/RAW data into RGB. IT used the nearest neighbor pixels to decide which color should be set for that particular pixel. Although related to CCD sensor category, Foveon X3 sensor is probably the most innovative technology product, use with Sigma's DSLR Cameras. Even so, we can see any upgrade in the Horizon. Sigma photographers have been waiting for almost five years for Foveon to come up with a new sensor. Foveon X3 sensor can capture all three (Red, Green & Blue) colors at the same pixel point, therefore, dismissing the need for any in-camera interpolation.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We can see many professional photographers using software for converting camera Raw image format file to JPEG. This method allows using the power of your computer to produce higher quality digital images. Incorporating better CPU power means sophisticated algorithms can be used to produce higher image quality overall. So in terms of innovation, the algorithm can be improved, especially when new imaging processing chips are being used.
  
  
  
• Image Stabilization - Sony has built-in image stabilization in their DSLR cameras, after Inheriting Konica-Minolta technology innovations. Other companies keep improving their in-lens optical image stabilization mechanisms, allowing for higher stop advantage. Nikon has done it with their VRII (Vibration Reduction), Canon now allowing four stop advantage with its improved IS. Furthermore, on July 2009, Canon has announced a new Hybrid image stabilization system that corrects both linear and rotational camera shake.
  
  Apparently, we won't see other camera manufacturers embedding image stabilization inside the camera, but that technology feature can always be improved.
  
  
  
• Mirrorless Digital Cameras (EVIL) - The new trend is compact 'DSLR' like digital cameras. Olympus and Panasonic where the first to innovate in this field. Those compact mirrorless digital cameras are also known as Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens (EVIL). Sony was the next company to come up with their own Sony α NEX-5 & NEX-3 mirrorless cameras. As Mirrorless optional market share keeps on getting wider, companies like Nikon and Canon will probably come up with their own implementations. There is plenty of room for innovation in this category.
  
  
• HD Video - This is one of the hottest topics in the DSLR section. Canon and Sony have the upper-hand. Many leading companies like Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Sony, Fujifilm and Panasonic, will keep making new innovations in 2011 and the following years. The HD video feature has become very popular both in the prosumer & professional photography market.  We already hear some news about the Canon EOS 60D, that will probably show new innovations related to the HD video shooting functionality. There is plenty of space to innovate here. Digital Camera manufacturers can improve the image quality, in-camera video editing, focusing and light metering functionality.
  
  
  
• Battery Life - I think that Nikon is a leader in that field.  Creating less power consumption electronic sensors and LCD monitors, use new battery manufacturing technologies, all can improve the battery life. Having long battery life gives you an option to shoot all day long, without worrying about a battery drain. As new high resolution LCD screens are being implemented inside DSLR camera, there is a continuously need to improve battery life. Apple has done it repeatedly with its own iPhone and MacBook Pro laptops. I am sure that many companies can innovate in that field too.
  
  Vertical Battery grips are good way to prolong your daily shooting session. Nerveless, many photographers will prefer carrying less gear and being able to put two batteries inside the camera body, without needing for an external battery grip. The problem here that the profit margin from camera grips is so high, that no camera manufacturer will want to make this valuable accessory a thing of the past (Don't you think?).
  
  
  
• Camera Lenses - Not less important (maybe more) are technology innovations used in interchangeable lenses. Nikon and Canon keep searching ways to improve in this area. Whether it is with the ultra silent focusing mechanism, lens coating and glass to reduce flare & ghost (ex. Nano crystal coat, ED Glass, Fluorite glass, etc.). The camera lens is one of the most important elements that are responsible for image quality. However, in that technology field, we don't see many innovations streaming in. It doesn't mean that there isn't room for improvements though.
  
  
  
• Built-in Features - How many of you wished to have geotagging photo feature built-in camera? That means having a GPS receiver inside the camera, instead of using an external GPS receiver. We can already see companies embedding GPS receivers inside consumer digital cameras. Maybe Nikon or Canon will come up with their own solution for that, making geotagging photos much easier for photographers. Most of the innovations will probably belong to this category. Many of them will be with software and not hardware. We have already seen new digital cameras with multi-touch screen&  smile and face detection functionality. We can see that there are many new innovations that are made specifically for the prosumer market. It seems that it's easier to excite and satisfy amateur and hobbyist photographers.

 This is only a partial list. There is plenty of space for new photography innovations. The problem is that good innovations are hard to find. Who thought about multitouch and face detection 10 years ago?

We are talking about well funded companies, and we expect them to find the solutions and innovate frequently. Many new patents are pended every month. We, the photographers, hope that someday soon, we will see great new innovations, which will inspire all other companies to keep up with the competition. Photography has come a long way in the last decade. Let's just hope that we will see useful and essential innovations pretty soon.

Wait.. trying to contact Canon & Nikon on my Walkie-talkie: "Digital Photography Writer to Nikon and Canon, Do you copy?".... "Yes, we copy, new technology innovations at Photokina-show 2010..". (a touch of humor won't hurt while we wait).

Mare sure you check out Timeline of photography technology on Wikipedia (from 1822 until present time), interesting stuff!